Amalgamator



(No Model.)

P. L. DOWNBND.

AMALGAMATOR.

No. 326,483. Patented Sept. 15, 1885. Fig-J."

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Irwerutor WaQ/ UMW UNITED STATES. PATENT-OFFICE.

FRANKLIN L. DOIVNEND, OF IDAHO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

AIVIALGAMATOR.

.I-BPECIPIQATIONforming part of Letters Patent No.326,483; dated September '15, I885.

Application filed February 11, 1885. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN L. DOWN- END, acitizen of the United States, residing at Idaho Springs, in the county of Clear Creek and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amalgamators, of which the following is a specification.

concentrators and amalgamators; and the object of my invention is to provide a concentrator and amalgamator adapted to be used in connection with the stamp-mill process or Cornish rolls and pulverizer for the purpose of saving all the gold and at the same time to separate the pulverized rock and gangue from the metals and thereby concentrate the smelting ores by the same operation,which leaves the free-milling ore in a pure state.

It is well known that the flour gold found in abundance in ore-bearing'pyritesof iron and in smaller quantities in other gold-bearing quartz is by the ordinary amalgamating plate process almost wholly lost, being carried away by the current of water passing over the said plates. By myinvention herein described I have sought to overcome this difficulty by producing a vortex or suction in the center of an amalgamating-pau, which carries the water containing the product of the stampmills down to the bottom of the said pan, thus bringing all the gold in direct contact with the amalgam in the bottom of said pan, after which the water, spreading out, loses its velocity and allows the smelting ores to separate therefrom and to be retained in the pan above the amalgam by their weight, while the lighter impurities are forced up and carried off by the water.

My invention consists in the constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a device embodying myinvention, Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation View of the same, and Fig. 3 is a detailed view referred to hereinafter.

In the said drawings, A represents the path, which may be constructed either of cast iron, boiler-iron, or other suitable material, and of any suitable and convenient size, it being My invention relates to improvement in preferably made of considerable depth and open at the top.-

.In the center of'the pan Ais a vertical shaft, B, journaled in a suitable step at the bottom of the pan and supported at the top by a suitable bearing, a, secured to a frame, A, which is supported over the top of thesaid pan.

Secured to the vertical shaft B, near its lower end, is a cross-bar, 0, provided on its under side with, a series of vertical depending arms, (1. Each of these depending arms. d carries at its lower extremity a shoe, 6, (see Fig. 3,) pivoted at. its forward end to said arm and adapted as the shaft H is revolved to be drawn around on the bottom of the said shoes on the other side,.thus covering the entire surface of the bottom of the pan at each. revolution. The shaft B is adaptedto be revolved from a horizontal shaft,-D, supported in suitable bearings at the top of the pan through bevel-gears. f f on the respective shafts. v V v l Near the top of the pan A, and surrounding the shaft B, is a funnel, E, supported by suitable means from the frame Aand eXtend-. ing downward into the pan within a short distance of the cross-bar O.

In the side of the pan A, at a point a little above the lower end of the funnel E, I provide a discharge-opening, 71, provided with a suitable spout, h, and at a point about on a level with the top of the shoese a second opening, I, normally closed with a plug, Z. The funnel E is connected to the supporting-framein such a manner as to be capable of a vertical adjustment in the pan A, which may be accomplished, as shown, by providing the supporting-piece with a slotted opening, through which the fastening-bolt which holds the funnel is extended. The amalgam is placed in the bottom of the pan A, and extends nearly to the opening Z.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The crushed ore, mixed abundantly with water, as it comes from the stamping-mills is discharged through a suitable spout into the funnel E, the vertical shaft being first set in motion from the motive power communicated through suitablemeans to thehorizontal shaft D. From' the funnel E the water and ores pass into the pan A until said pan is filled up even with the outlet-opening h. The water as it is discharged from the funnel assumes a rotary motion, forming a vortex, and produces a suction which carries the gold and other metals down to the bottom of the pan, where the gold becomes amalgamated with the mercuryin the .pan. Theshoes, dragging around on the bottom of the pan, serve to remove any rust the gold may contain, which would other-' wise prevent its amalgamation, and also operate in the nature of the old and well-known Mexican arrastras for further grinding the ores. As the water and ores discharged from the funnel approach the bottom of the pan theytspread out, the "water loses its velocity and rises .up in the pan, allowing the metals by their weight to separate therefrom and be come concentrated over'the amalgam, whilej the 111115, angue, and lightertsubstances are carriedo by the waterthrough the dischargeopeningh. Whentheconcentrated ores have .acoumulatedto a sufiioient-extent in the pan,

little-danger of carryingotf the flour gold, or

any of it, is experienced. By adjusting the 'funnel vertically the velocity of the discharge may be increased or diminished.

The machine is particularly adapted as a gold-saving machine, but may be used without the amalgam for separating and concentrating silver or other ores.

pan, and a discharge-opening above said concentrator opening and opposite to or slightly above the bottom of said funnel.

2. The combination, with the amalgamat ing-pan having the discharge-opening therein, and a gradually-converging stationary hopper or funnel supported in the top of said pan, of a vertical :revolving shaft passing through said funnel and provided below said funnel with a cross-bar'having depending arms and a seriesof dragging shoes hinged to the lower extremities of said arms and adapted to drag ghe bottom 'of said pan, substantially as set 3. The combination, with the open amalgamating-pan provided with, a dischargeopening in the side thereof, a gradually converging or tapered hopper supported in the top of said pan and adapted to be adjusted vertically to change its position relative to the discharge-opening, of a vertical revolving shaft passing through said funnel and provided below said funnel with a cross-bar having a series of hinged shoes attached thereto adapted to drag the bottom of said pan, and a horizontal shaft supported at the top of the pan and provided with abevel-gear adapted to engage a bevel-gear on the top of sald vertical shaft. 7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set any band this 7th day of February, A. D. 1885.

FRANKLIN L. DOWN EN D.

W itnesses PAUL A. STALEY, CHASE STEWART. 

